Vortical flame gas burner



Aug. 21, 1951 H. G. MUELLER voRTIcAL FLAME GAS BURNER Filed 001;. 5. `1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Aug- 21, v1951 H. G. MUELLER 565,039

` VORTICAL FLAME GAS BURNER Filed Oct. 5, 194e 2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY `bustion chamber.

Patented Aug. 21, 1951 LUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE -VORTICALFLAME GAS BURNER Herman G. Mueller, Erie, Pa. 'Application October 5, 1946, 'Serial No. 701,442

4 Claims ."fIhisinvention relates* generally to fuel burners and itrelates more particularly to a fuel'burner providing-rotary motion-tothe fuel mixture passing tothe` furnace.

' .Alll devices of-thisrcharacter made according :to the :teachings Vofthe prior art, and with which I1 f'am'familiar, have attempted "to' use various refractory baffle means to direct the-flame from a bur-nerftoward the `'vvalls'of'the fire-box or com- These v'b'allles have absorbed considerable .of the heatenergy of the Vflame and the Vflame contacted-fthe walls of the combustion 'chamber a substantial Adistance above the burner. Incomplete combustion generally: results in these prior. devices. f Cther :means have "been provided such as refractory 'blocks lyingiagainst the yside of the wall'to vdirect'thev flames against the side of the-combustion chamber, but these blocks have likewise been impractical in that they are verir short lived, and the flame only strikes arestricted area of the heat transfer' surfaces. There is no 'complete combustion of the fuel mixture.

It is, accordingly,an object of my invention to provide a novel-fuel burner .for a furnace which is simple in construction, efcient in operation, economical in cost, and easy to assemble in a furnace.

- vAnother object of my invention is to provide a-novel fuel'burnerfor a furnace which circulates flames Yin .a rotational movement in the furnace whereby there is better heat conduction, more economical fuel combustion and there is a cleaning of vthe Walls of the furnace or combustion chamber thereof dueto the circulating flame.

vAnother object of my invention is to provide means Vforvarying theamount of-secondary air passing to the fire pot of thefurnaee.

, Another 'object of my Vinvention-is to provide an adjustable flanged ring below'my novel burner in the fire pot of the furnace.

Another object of my invention-isto provide a burner forming a flame in the form of a vortex in thecombustion chamber.

Other `objects `of lmyfinvention will become evident `from Vthe followingv detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsVin which: f

Fig. lis a .plan view of my novel burner-disposed in afurnace with parts broken away -for better illustration;

- Fig.' 2.is aview taken on the line 2-2 of Fig-1;

Fig. 3 is afragmentary side yeleva-tional yView showing-particularly an adjustable flanged ring surroundingy my -novel burner; and

Fig: 4 is ran enlarged `vertical sectional view of` the adjustable lfuel-valve used fin-conjunction with my novel burner.

Referring now-to the-drawings, fFigs. l, 2,13,

rand 4 show the base section -I of a conventional ylower end 5 and an open-upperiendf Bf-thereof flared outwardly and ldownwardly in--a'rcuate form. An internally-threaded dome shaped head I is arcuate in shape-andspaced from the @outwardly flared arcuate-shaped '--upper end Ef-to form an annularconvergingzopening 9 vdirected downwardly at the outer marginali-portion I D. The head 'I is-threadably-engaged with -stud Il and secured `by a--nut (I2. Radially extending support members --I3 textend outwardly from-the cylindrically shaped -member tandA aref-formed integral therewith. The-outwardly projecting support members I 3A have cut-away portions '-I 4 for seating a flanged ring member-` I5v which has stepped depending skirts --I 6- for `vertical adjustment of the ring-member I5 -in relation-tothe outer marginal portion -ofthe :upper -end 6 lof the member 4. The flanged ring-member lI5 has-an outwardly extending support .portion -I'I -for -supporting the re brick `r`llt! of the-lire box-or combustion chamber 3. `A-pilot burner .-20 is secured to oneofthe support members- I3-of the -member 4 and is connected -to a fuel line -2I -connecting any suitable fuel source for providing apilot .llame adjacent-the Imarginalportion-ID of the converging opening 9. --Lower -volutoid'portion '5 ofthe cylindrical member 4 has a tangentially extendingportion 24 with a threaded hub Y25--for connection to a threaded nipple-2li-and-inspirator 21 leading to a -mixing -valve--28.- -Inspirator -21 is supportedby-outwardly-extending-ears 29- having threaded apertures SIJ-for receiving threaded studs 3| which extend to-the floor-.32 ofthebase section I of the furnace. 1--Ihe-cy1indrical mem- -ber 4- has outwardly extending--threadecl'fears Y65 to which -are threadably engaged threaded stud member-6a which extends tovthe floor-320i? -the base :section I- to support-the cylindrical por-tion 4 of my novel burner member.

The tangentiallyextendingportion-24 is -integral with-the--lower--portion 5 of thecylindrical member- 4 and merges-with the'contour ofthe volutoidportion 5 ofthe-member 4. When-the fuel mixture under 4pressure enters-the lower volutoid portion 5 of the .cylindrical -member4, it is given a-rotational--force so thatI it ascendsin a rotary motion which accelerates as it rises through the smaller diameter of member 4 to the upper converging and adjustable opening 9. The fuel mixture passes from the opening 9 to form a vortex around the outer periphery of the combustion chamber 3.

My novel mixing valve 28 comprises an externally threaded nozzle member 40 having an intermediate flanged portion 4 I, threaded portion 9|] thereof engaging the threaded portion 42 of a fitting 43. The fitting 43 has outwardly extending connecting flanges 44 with apertures 45 for receiving bolts 46 which pass through apertures 45a in the flanged portion 41 on the flared end 48 of the inspirator 21. Nuts 59 engage the threaded ends of the bolts 46 to secure the anged portions 44 of the fitting 43 to the flanged portion 41 of the inspirator 21. Cylindrically shaped spacing members I are provided between the hanged portion 41 of the inspirator 21 and the anged members 44 of the tting 43. The fitting 43 has an internally threaded portion 52 for receiving the threaded end 53 of a needle 54 having a tapered end 55 adapted to engage or be spaced a predetermined distance from the aperture 56 in the tapered end 51 of the nozzle member 40. The threaded end 53 of the needle 54 is Slotted at 51 for receiving the end of a screw driver or the like to move the needle 54 longitudinally. A threaded cap member 59 is disposed in the outer end of the tting 43. The needle 54 may be adjusted to increase or decrease the area between the outer sides of the tapered end 55 of the needle 54 and the inner side of the aperture 5B. The fitting 43 also has a laterally extending threaded aperture 60 for threadably engaging the threaded end of a fuel line 6I. I have shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 a thermostatically controlled member 62 in the fuel line 6I though it is not a part of m'y invention. It will be evident upon inspection that the fitting 43 may be rotated 360 degrees and the bolt members 46 may be disposed in any three of the four apertures 45-a in the hanged portion 41 of the inspirator 21 thereby permitting the fitting 43 to be disposed in any one of four positions 90 degrees apart. This permits the fuel line 6I to be attached to the fitting 43 in any one of four positions thereby facilitating connection of a fuel line to my novel mixing valve 28. Flange member 58 threadably engages the threaded portion 42-a of the nozzle member 48 and is adapted to be spaced from the flared end 48 of the inspirator 21 to increase or decrease the amount of air passing into the ared end 48 of the inspirator to mix with the fuel passing from the aperture 56 of the nozzle member 40.

In operation, my novel burner member is disposed in the combustion chamber of a furnace assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The flanged ring member I5 is disposed on the cutaway portions I4 of the support members I3 of the cylindrical member 4 and proper spacing between the upper end I of the cylindrical member 4 and the top of the flanged ring I5 is obtained by utilizing various steps of the stepped skirt I6. Connection is then made to the fuel line 2I for the pilot burner 20 and fuel line 6I is connected to fitting 43 of the mixing valve 28. The area of the opening 9 of my novel burner is adjusted, if necessary, by rotating the head 1 on the threaded stud I I to obtain the desired opening 9 for best performance for a particular predetermined pressure in the fuel line and for a particular fuel mixture used. Although I have shown the lower enlarged volutoid portion 5 of the cylindrical member 4. in..

the form of a volute curve, it will be evident that any other suitable form may be used without departing from the spirit of my invention. The height of the cylindrical member 4 and the inspirator 21 may be adjusted by rotation of the supports 3I and 66. The fitting 43 is disposed in any one of four different positions degrees apart. Fuel enters the fitting 43 through fuel line 6I and passes to the aperture 5S of the nozzle 40, the open area of which is controlled by the tapered end 55 of the adjustable needle 54. Air passes through the open fiared end 48 of the inspirator 21 and the amount of air entering the nared end 48 is controlled by adjustment of the flanged member 88. The air and fuel mixture passes through inspirator 21 and portion 24 and passes around the enlarged volutoid portion 5 of the cylindrical member 4 and then moves rotatively and upwardly to the converging opening 9 where it passes in an accelerated vortex form to the combustion chamber 3. Acceleration of the fuel mixture is caused by restricting the area of the central portion of the cylindrical member 4. The combustible mixture passing outwardly from the outer end I ll of the opening 9 is ignited by the pilot light 20 and the vortex flame rotates around the nre pot 3 adjacent the walls thereof, therefore obtaining more complete combustion and maximum heat conduction from the combustible mixture passing from the opening 9. Furthermore, secondary air passing upwardly through the opening between the flanged ring I5 and the cylindrical member 4 increases the eiciency of the burner in that additional air is inducted to complete the combustion of the fuel mixture passing from the opening 9 of the burner.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that I have provided a burner which provides rotational flame on the outside of the fire pot or combustion chamber which causes it to remain next to the outer walls of the nre pot or combustion chamber thereby providing more complete combustion and maximum heat conduction eniciency. I also provide adjustable means for providing secondary air for'` complete combustion of the fuel and air mixture. The rotational movement of the burning combustible mixture tends to draw sufcient air through the opening between the ring I5 and the cylindrical member 4 thereby insuring complete combustion of the combustible mixture. It will further be evident that I have provided a novel adjustable mixing valve which is very simple in construction and which is adapted for connection to any suitable fuel line disposed at any angle to the inspirator entering the furnace with a minimum of labor at the job site.

Various changes may be made in the specific embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A fuel burner for a furnace comprising a hollow, cylindrically shaped member having the lower end thereof enlarged defining a volute shaped portion and the upper end thereof flared outwardly and downwardly in arcuate form, an inspirator entering the outer extremity of said volute portion of said cylindrical member substantially tangentially thereto supplying a combustible fuel mixture thereto, a threaded stud extending upwardly axially of said cylindrical shaped member, and axially adjustable cap having a central threaded portion for threadable engagement with the upper threaded end of said stud and having an annular arcuate shaped portion corresponding to the flared arcuate shaped portion on the upper end of said cylindrical shaped member dening an arcuate shaped, converging, annular, laterally extending outlet in the upper end of said cylindrical shaped member, said cap being spaced upwardly from the upper arcuate end of said cylindrical shaped member, and means for securing said cap on said stud.

2. A fuel burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein a ring member having a plurality of stepped skirt portions is supported concentric to said cylindrical shaped member on brackets on the outer side of said cylindrical shaped member, said ring member being adjustable vertically on said brackets for varying the distance between the upper side of said ring member and the flared out, arcuate shaped upper end of said cylindrical shaped member to vary the size of the opening therebetween to control the amount of air for combustion passing therethrough.

3. A fuel burner as set forth in claim 1 wherein a ring 'member having an outwardly projecting portion for supporting a refractory floor of a combustion chamber is supported on radially ex tending brackets on said cylindrical shaped member concentric with said cylindrical shaped member defining an opening between said ring member and the ared out, arcuate shaped upper end of said cylindrical shaped member to control the amount of air passing through said opening for combustion.

4. A fuel burner for a combustion chamber comprising a hollow cylindrically shaped member open at the upper end and close-d at the lower end thereof having the lower end thereof enlarged to dene a volute shaped portion and having the upper end thereof flared arcuately outwardly through an arc greater than ninety degrees, an inspirator entering the outer'extremity of said volute portion of said cylindrical shaped member substantially tangentially thereto for supplying a combustible fuel mixture thereto, a threaded stud member extending Ver- 10 said cylindrically shaped member defining an arcuate shaped, converging, annular, laterally extending outlet in the upper end of said cylindrical shaped member, and means for securing said arcuate shaped cap member on said stud member.

HERMAN Gr. MUELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenr. es are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,731,090 Beeby Oct. 8, 1929 1,733,199 Peabody Dec. 3, 1929 1,945,934 Dollin et al Feb. 6, 1934 2,009,271 Moeker July 23, 1935 21,024,693 Klemme Dec. 17, 1935 r 2,025,089 Bulger Dec. 24, 1935 0 2,027,159 Fulton Jan. 7, 1936 2,183,836 Gordon Dec. 19, 1939 2,412,348 Mercier Dec. 10, 1946 2,475,240 Hassmer et al July 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,075 Switzerland June 3, 1889 79,451 Australia Dec. 10, 1919 202,099 Great Britain Aug. 16, 1923 40 574,734 Germany Apr. 20, 1933 

